Gallery – Wolsingham Bowling Club

A selection of photographs showing some of the history of the club.

Northern Echo report on the grand opening of the new bowling green at the Recreational Ground, Wolsingham in 1989. The memorial stone to Joe Johnson still sits by the entrance gate to the green, and a trophy in Joe’s name is played for every year, as one of the club competitions, and is open to all novices (new members) or members who have yet to win any of the other singles trophies.

Opening day in 1989. Trudi Kitto (Club Captain) explains to William (Billy) Glass, the clubs 1st President, that every member will bowl a “spider” by forming a circle on the green and bowl a wood each towards a jack placed in the centre.
This meant that all members bowled the “first” ever wood on the new green!
You may notice the lack of flora around the edges of the green. The gardens are now a major, and attractive, feature of the clubs surroundings, thanks to the dedicated, and continued work of several past and current members.

1991 Triples Winners – (left to right) Reg Linley, Vane Dyson and Ken Sanderson

1996 Triples Final in play and shots being decided at the conclusion of an end –
Ben Bellamy (in white cap) playing with Freda Irwin (far left) and Tommy Irwin (hands on hips in background) versus June Pearson (2nd on left), John Pearson (centre) and Robert Hopkinson (back to camera).

1996 Triples Winners – June Pearson, Robert Hopkinson (left) and John Pearson (right) receive the trophy from Tom Hutchinson, Club President (centre).

Two occasions of serious flooding on the green! The top picture was in 1999 and note the old brown building in the background, which was the original club building before the current stone building was built in 2005. The bottom two were taken sometime after 2005. Surprisingly the green survived any serious damage and was playable again in a few days once the water had drained away!

An article in the Northern Echo on Saturday 28th April 2007 – Thanks to a very generous donation from The Banks Group, together with help from the County Durham Foundation, the club was very fortunate to receive the installation of an automatic irrigation system, and the second picture shows one of the 4 spray heads (one each side of the green) in action.

The Wolsingham team ready to play against Glenholme Club, Crook in 2014. Back row (left to right): Peter Irvine, John Clarke, Ken Dodd, Munro O’Dell, Avis Shuttleworth, Robert Hopkinson. Front row (left to right): Ian Wilson, Jim Price, Tony Bell, Linda Hetherington, Alan Stephenson, Ron Grogan.

Grainger Cup Winners 2014 – Avis Shuttleworth and Dave Phelps receiving the trophy from Club President Ian Wilson.

Wolsingham team ready to play another home match, sporting their new sponsorship badges for Fletchers Marquees. Back row (left to right): Ray Rowell, Ron Grogan, Alan Stephenson, Dave Phelps, Peter Irvine, Alan Liddell, Paul Lake. Front row (left to right): Robert Hopkinson, Ann Twiname, Joe Martindale, George Rockett, Jim Price.

Northern Echo July 2016 – 2nd Division Wolsingham beat Spennymoor 6-4 in the team knockout quarter finals despite Spennymoor being unbeaten 1st Division leaders, and having won the team knockout for the previous 8 years, however Wolsingham went on to lose in the semi finals.

Team members gathering to play another home match. Forefront (left to right): Linda Hetherington, Norman Kitto, Alan Stephenson, Dennis Frith. Background (left to right): Peter Irvine, Ken Dodd, Les Hogarth.

Wolsingham and Cockton Hill clubs play a friendly every September for the John Straughan Trophy (John was a member of both clubs at various times). Games are played home and away alternate years, and this picture shows Dave Phelps (Wolsingham Club Captain) receiving the trophy as winners in 2023.

A picture of the green taken today (17th July 2024), with some verticutting and mowing taking place before the afternoon match. Note how the surrounding garden area looks compared to the picture taken on the opening day in 1989.

Some of our members in action against Wingate (at home) on 20th July 2024.